& Friends on Technology Policy

Cutting the cord on cable TV with Roku

This Christmas, as a gift to myself, I opened a small and unassuming box with a clever card to welcome me: “Hi!”

This was the start of a beautiful relationship, between me and my Roku, a relationship that will save me thousands a year.

I have been meaning to simplify my life for some time now by “cutting the cord” to cable television and the Roku has finally given me an important means to do it. Roku is a digital media player (internet TV) which streams content in high definition to your television. The version I bought, the Roku XD, retails at $79.99. The current premium channel lineup consists of Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu plus and others. For music lovers Pandora Radio is also available.

Time and money are at a premium these days and ridding myself of the superfluous has turned into a daily practice. Inspired by the guys over at “the minimalists” I decided to abandon all 270+ channels of mind numbing cable content laden with commercials. Saving over $90.00 a month without cable, and $1080.00 a year it was a simple decision…that is with my Roku XD up and running.

What surprised me the most about this capable little box is the sheer volume of outstanding (and free) content. Content that I choose to install…or not. Need the local weather? Download the weather underground channel. Want to watch the news? Download the Roku newscaster. Enjoy listening to audio books, perhaps watch a lecture given at Yale? Download the CDN2 Channel. The list goes on.

I love technology that does what you want it to do (and more) and sets up in a matter of minutes.